Rafters Walk-Off in Extras Against Kingfish on Mallek Blast

Plover, Wis. native Mitch Mallek drives in three to propel Rafters to 4-2 victory

 

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – After a 3-0 victory on opening day, the Rafters were back in action against the Kingfish at Witter Field. After jumping out to a 1-0 lead, the visitors from Kenosha scored two unanswered and headed to the 9^th with a one-run lead. The Rafters forced extras and in the bottom of the 10^th Mitch Mallek hit a two-run shot over the right field fence to take the Rafters home to victory. Mallek finished the memorable day 3 for 4 with three runs batted in.

 

The Rafter started the scoring in the first frame of the game on a Mallek single with two outs, scoring Bryson Scott from second.  One run would be all the Rafters get in the frame.

 

The visitors would strike for their first run of the 2017 season in the top of the fourth inning. After the first two runners reached base safely, Alex Paulson would drive one through the hole on the left side of the infield, scoring Mike Madej from second. Rafter’s starter Quinn DiPasquale would leave the game after hitting Kenosha Centerfielder Connor Doyle and was replaced by left-hander, Sam Carver.  Carver would force an inning ending double play to get the home side out of the bases loaded jam.  The score was tied at one run a piece entering the bottom of the 4^th.

 

Kenosha second baseman Mike Madej broke the tie in the top of the 8^th inning on a solo drive over the left field fence.  The home run was the first of the year for either squad. Kenosha led entering the bottom of the 8^th, 2-1.

 

The Rafters were down to their last three outs entering the bottom of the 9^th inning when Nick Owens would tie the game with an opposite field strike to right, which scored Shaq Robinson from 2^nd. Owens would swipe second base to enter scoring position, but Bryson Stott would strike out swinging to send the game to extras.

 

Kenosha would bring the go-ahead run to third base but Nick Avila would pop Samuel Vega to centerfield to take the game to the bottom of the 10^th. Jake Guenther led off the Rafters half of the inning with a walk and advanced all the way to third via a sacrifice bunt and stolen base.  Mitch Mallek entered the batter’s box with two out and on a 1-0 count blasted a fastball over the right field fence to walk-off at Witter Field. The Rafters win in 10 innings against the Kingfish, 4-2, and start the year with a sweep.

 

The Rafters (2-0) will hit the road Thursday, June 1^st to square off with the newest addition to the South Division of the Northwoods League, the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders.  Thursday’s game will be the home opener for the Dock Spiders at Herr-Baker Field on the campus of Marian University.  First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. to open a new chapter of Northwoods baseball in Fond du Lac.

 

 

 

 

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/ or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bullfrogs as your favorite team.